Harry Potter Should Be Public Domain

[Sonist]

Since JKR's turned out to be somewhat on the greedy side, and is taking such a strong stance against making her work available electronically, I was thinking: Shouldn't the British public be entitled to some of her profits?

JKR was paid from the public pot, while she was unemployed.

While others went out to look for work, she was using the public's money to sit in coffee shops, writing her books.

"Work for hire," if you ask me.... Thus, HP should be in the public domain.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Sonist

Since JKR's turned out to be somewhat on the greedy side, and is taking such a strong stance against making her work available electronically, I was thinking: Shouldn't the British public be entitled to some of her profits?

JKR was paid from the public pot, while she was unemployed.

While others went out to look for work, she was using the public's money to sit in coffee shops, writing her books.

"Work for hire," if you ask me.... Thus, HP should be in the public domain.

That is one of the more outrageous things I've read in a long time. I hope you really are not serious.

[Moejoe]

Originally Posted by Sonist

Since JKR's turned out to be somewhat on the greedy side, and is taking such a strong stance against making her work available electronically, I was thinking: Shouldn't the British public be entitled to some of her profits?

JKR was paid from the public pot, while she was unemployed.

While others went out to look for work, she was using the public's money to sit in coffee shops, writing her books.

"Work for hire," if you ask me.... Thus, HP should be in the public domain.

But if we did that then we'd have to also do the same for Kim Newman (who wrote a lot of his early stuff while on the dole)

[jinlo]

I like it.

I think everyone in Great Britain should get T-shirts that read "I own .oooooooooooooooo1% of Harry Potter... and all I got was this lousy T-shirt."

[UncleDuke]

does that mean that she gets back all the tax she paid on the royalities she received that went to other aspiring writers?

[Nate the great]

Originally Posted by Sonist

Since JKR's turned out to be somewhat on the greedy side, and is taking such a strong stance against making her work available electronically, I was thinking: Shouldn't the British public be entitled to some of her profits?

JKR was paid from the public pot, while she was unemployed.

While others went out to look for work, she was using the public's money to sit in coffee shops, writing her books.

"Work for hire," if you ask me.... Thus, HP should be in the public domain.

First of all, get your facts straight. You want your government to own it. If it's in the public domain then no one owns it.

Second, she wrote the first novel while on the dole; not any of the rest.

Third, you are basically saying that if anyone buys anything while on the dole, it should belong to your government.

Finally, given how much she's paid in taxes on her millions I would say your government has been more than paid back.

[Sonist]

Originally Posted by Nate the great

First of all, get your facts straight. You want your government to own it. If it's in the public domain then no one owns it.

Second, she wrote the first novel while on the dole; not any of the rest.

Third, you are basically saying that if anyone buys anything while on the dole, it should belong to your government.

Finally, given how much she's paid in taxes on her millions I would say your government has been more than paid back.

First, O.K., you are right. I guess the Queen should have it....

Second, the first novel contains the idea (even if she stole much of it from Tolkien.) That's what's important, and that's what publishers pay the big advances for. Once we have the idea, the Queen could have just hired other unemployed writers to churn out the other books. We even could have had real professional writers do it, and cheaply, instead of some overpaid housewife....

Third, no, I am not asking for the coffee back, just for the proceeds from the "work for hire" paid for by the taxpayers.

Fourth, yes, she paid some taxes, but so what? If I gave you seed money to start a successful business, can you refuse to pay me my fair share, just because you pay some taxes, now that you are filthy rich?!

And finally, I was kind of joking....

[jinlo]

Originally Posted by Sonist

First, O.K., you are right. I guess the Queen should have it....

Second, the first novel contains the idea (even if she stole much of it from Tolkien.) That's what's important, and that's what publishers pay the big advances for. Once we have the idea, the Queen could have just hired other unemployed writers to churn out the other books. We even could have had real professional writers do it, and cheaply, instead of some overpaid housewife....

Third, no, I am not asking for the coffee back, just for the proceeds from the "work for hire" paid for by the taxpayers.

Fourth, yes, she paid some taxes, but so what? If I gave you seed money to start a successful business, can you refuse to pay me my fair share, just because you pay some taxes, now that you are filthy rich?!

And finally, I was kind of joking....

If the Queen gets it, it wouldn't be proper for her to wear a T-shirt, so that just won't do. Pick someone else! (Or maybe we can make a crown instead of a T-shirt? Hmmm.)

[Sonist]

Originally Posted by jinlo

If the Queen gets it, it wouldn't be proper for her to wear a T-shirt, so that just won't do. Pick someone else! (Or maybe we can make a crown instead of a T-shirt? Hmmm.)

Hm, picturing the Queen in a tight HP tee.... Maybe not. Is she wet?

Or Charles? Wet?

And after the first year, every unemployed Brit gets one. Wet? Maybe, but only those with BMI of less than 20.

[Elfwreck]

Originally Posted by Sonist

Third, no, I am not asking for the coffee back, just for the proceeds from the "work for hire" paid for by the taxpayers.

Fourth, yes, she paid some taxes, but so what? If I gave you seed money to start a successful business, can you refuse to pay me my fair share, just because you pay some taxes, now that you are filthy rich?!

I don't know about the UK, but in the US, "work for hire" has to be agreed to by both parties, in writing. And the work has to be described in detail... a person who does technical writing "for hire" doesn't have to turn over the novels they wrote while paying rent with the money they earned doing technical writing.

Seed money doesn't get paid back unless there's a contract that says so. It also usually doesn't say, "all future financial success from this business venture belongs to the person who provided the seed money."

[vivaldirules]

Originally Posted by Sonist

.... Thus, HP should be in the public domain.

Sure thing! Oh, heck, why not just steal it all, huh? Go get that big rock over there and smash the window and then you take the lamps and chairs and I'll take the silverware and anything good to eat from the refrigerator. Okay?

[Moejoe]

Originally Posted by vivaldirules

Sure thing! Oh, heck, why not just steal it all, huh? Go get that big rock over there and smash the window and then you take the lamps and chairs and I'll take the silverware and anything good to eat from the refrigerator. Okay?

Bacon?

[phenomshel]

Oh, y'all, don't get me started! I think JKR is absolutely shooting herself in the foot with her attitude on this. I'm sure she's rich enough not to care, but she's still being stupid. Technology is the present AND the future, and she's thumbing her nose at it.
Why on earth would you knock a whole class of consumers out of access to your work? Makes no sense to me whatsoever.

[jinlo]

Originally Posted by vivaldirules

Sure thing! Oh, heck, why not just steal it all, huh? Go get that big rock over there and smash the window and then you take the lamps and chairs and I'll take the silverware and anything good to eat from the refrigerator. Okay?

I understand why you want the contents of the refrigerator. I'm a little puzzled, however, as to what you're going to do with the silverware.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by phenomshel

Oh, y'all, don't get me started! I think JKR is absolutely shooting herself in the foot with her attitude on this. I'm sure she's rich enough not to care, but she's still being stupid. Technology is the present AND the future, and she's thumbing her nose at it.
Why on earth would you knock a whole class of consumers out of access to your work? Makes no sense to me whatsoever.

I agree with you, but whether we agree with her or not, the choice is hers to make. We may not agree with her, but we should respect her decision. It's hers and hers alone to make.